D diminished chord (Ddim)

D diminished is a 3-note diminished chord: D – F – A♭. It sounds unstable and tense. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele, with fingering and audio.

NotesD – F – A♭
Formula1 – ♭3 – ♭5
SymbolDdim · D° · Dm♭5
TypeDiminished chord

D diminished on guitar

Open position
Fret 5 (A shape)

How to place your fingers (open position)

Finger 1 (index) on fret 1 of the 3rd string (G).
Finger 3 (ring) on fret 3 of the 2nd string (B).
Finger 2 (middle) on fret 1 of the 1st string (E).
Play the 4th string open.
Don't play the 6th or 5th strings: strum from the 4th string.

The numbers inside the dots are the fingers of your left hand: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring and 4 pinky. The colored dots mark the root (D). The other positions let you change chords without jumping along the neck, or give you a higher-pitched sound.

D diminished on piano

In root position, play D – F – A♭ from bottom to top with fingers 1, 3 and 5 of your right hand (thumb, middle and pinky). With your left hand you usually play just the root (D) or the root and the fifth.

Inversions

First inversion: F – A♭ – D
Second inversion: A♭ – D – F

D diminished on ukulele

From fret 4

Standard tuning G – C – E – A (the G string is the high one). Is your ukulele in tune? Use the ukulele tuner.

Notes and intervals of D diminished

D1 · root
F♭3 · minor third
A♭♭5 · diminished fifth

It's the seventh degree of the major scale and works as a passing chord between two chords a whole step apart.

Progressions with Ddim

A leading tone that resolves: vii° – I

Ddim is the seventh degree of E♭ major and leads to E♭.

Passing chord: I – ♯i° – ii

It climbs by half steps between two chords a whole step apart.

Which keys contain D diminished?

Ddim belongs to 2 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).

Key	Degree
E♭ major	vii°
C natural minor	ii°

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the D diminished chord?

D diminished (Ddim) has 3 notes: D (root), F (minor third), A♭ (diminished fifth).

How do you play D diminished on guitar?

The easiest shape is in open position: x x 0 1 3 1 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Finger 1 (index) on fret 1 of the 3rd string (G). Finger 3 (ring) on fret 3 of the 2nd string (B). Finger 2 (middle) on fret 1 of the 1st string (E). The 4th string rings open. Don't play the 6th or 5th strings: strum from the 4th string.

How do you write D diminished in chord notation?

It's written Ddim; you may also see D° or Dm♭5. Letter notation names the notes C, D, E, F, G, A and B.

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